We’ve had the london one so…what do non-Mancunians think of Manchester?

[RishisPA]

Interested to see how it compares? Any insights into Manchester? I hate how so many visitors end up getting off at Piccadilly and going straight to Piccadilly gardens when (imo) that’s the worst bit of the city centre!!

I find it hard to find Manchester anything other than grotty and depressing overall - sorry. Always seems to be raining when I’m there even in summer. I’ve stayed in lovely hotels there and met some lovely friendly people. But then just going out into the city centre … and it’s quite grim.

I go there from time to time for work and find it grey, dank and depressing. The canals make it feel damp even when it's not raining. I much prefer Leeds, my fave northern city.

@southeastdweller

I was just in Piccadilly gardens, stopping at M&S for some food, on my way to see my parents in Yorkshire. The place is an utter armpit, it’s like the council and the police have given up on that bit of the city centre.

I think Piccadilly gardens is the main issue to be honest it’s so horrible around there and people often don’t make it beyond there to the lovely backstreets and much nicer areas.

@Flapjacker48

Rough.

Don't hold back 😬

And here was I thinking perhaps book a weekend break to Manchester....

I'm fond of manchester, northern quarter, museums, great restaurants but was actually quite taken aback by the sweariness of the locals when I first got there! I'm from elsewhere in the north and am no shrinking violet, it was just the first thing that hit me!

I grew up in Manchester in the 1970s and 1980s. I now live in a naice suburb.

I really don't like Manchester. Really grotty. No gardens in Piccadilly Gardens nowadays. Loads of old Victorian buildings knocked down and replaced by modern towers that are already deteriorating.

As others have said, Liverpool is much nicer.

I used to like it years ago, it seemed like it had an exciting vibe and I used to enjoy going in the Corn Exchange and Affleck's Palace, places like that. I can't remember that much about the nightlife, but once found a really good Chinese restaurant - the best food I've ever eaten - but couldn't find it again despite my best efforts.
It seems to have really gone downhill now though, gloomy, depressing, soulless I would say. There doesn't seem any community feel and the people seem miserable. I could have visited on a bad day but don't think I'd go back unless for a special reason.

Yes agree Liverpool is loads better, surprisingly. It feels light and open and the people are very friendly.

@AngelicaElizaAndPeggy

Terrifying! The Chicago of the north west. But v friendly people too. And massive skyscrapers.

Skycrapers?! Lol. There's basically one, and even that wouldn't even register in somewhere like New York!!!

Fun. Cool. Better than London, more manageable in size too. Industrial. Some rough/scary parts

I’ve never been (foreign and now settled in London). I’m drawing a blank with associations tbh. Two football teams? Half-decent shopping? Historic home of the Hacienda? Andy Burnham?

I’m not sure Manchester’s PR team are earning their keep tbh.

Love going into town, so many lovely restaurants and bars. Yes, it rains up north but skin is waterproof, don't see the problem.

I live in the south but travel to Manchester a lot for work. I really like it. Everyone is much friendlier and it's cheaper! If I didn't have ties here I would move there.
It rains a lot however. The Christmas markets were awful.

I lived in Manchester in the late 80s and it was an absolute crap hole. It's much improved now after a lot of investment, but I'm still not mad keen. Got asked to leave a pub/ restaurant once for "being too loud"
(Myself and 3 or 4 other 40 something women) we were upsetting children
It was a fucking pub ffs!!

I visited a few times years ago for work

I was amazed by the free bus (did i remember that right?) and friendliness of the bus driver. He was so helpful: Not like London where they pretend to be deaf and stare out the window if you ask anything

Easy to get and navigate around the city

Love Manchester, Northern Quarter and Chinatown are great and there are some fab places to eat, plenty to do with museums, parks, etc and the music scene is ace (though I miss the Roadhouse)
I live just outside of Manchester but often visit for shopping or a meal out.

'Yet, rightly understood, Manchester is as great a human expoit; as Athens.' Benjamin Disraeli, 1845.

Maybe true in 1845, certainly not now. The big negative for me, is the lack of green space, anywhere near the city centre. The only large city centre green space was Piccadilly Gardens; half of which the City Council sold off to build an office block, then concreted over the other half.

Crap architecture (with the exception of the Central Library) and not a patch on Liverpool.

Sadly it's my nearest big city and I suspect DS1 will end up at uni there.

Re the architecture it depends what you like. I love the mills and the urban feel, the town hall and Albert square are pretty impressive, and the area round the cathedral is pretty too as is st Ann's square and king Street.

Manchester also has the best libraries, John rylands and chethams. Plus the portico and the hidden gem church.

Spinning fields is an abomination and has sucked the soul out of that part of the city, the ivy is just tacky and nasty. Unfortunately places like spinning fields attract the footballer/wag crowd.

My husband is from a town 12 miles away from Manchester.
At the time we dated, he lived in Wiltshire, Somerset and later Berkshire but he always spoke about his town and Manchester, in general, as though it was the "greatest city on the world". I'm from the US, what do I know?

Not long after we married, he moved us to Greater Manchester (one of my kids was born there) and I spent five years living in the area. I went to Manchester every week during those years and I can't say that it was a bad city, as it has its charms. I love the Central Library and the John Rylands, the Northern Quarter and the countryside but I didn't love it and felt no connection with the city. We left for the US in 2004.

We visited his parents with our kids in 2015. I was excited to take my daughter around her place of birth (she was three when we left) but was not impressed and was disappointed. My son loves United and went to a match but even he said it was a place he felt a bit unsafe. In fact, even my husband thought it was a bit of a let down. It has changed so much though. My husband always spoke of retiring there but now he says he'd look into retiring somewhere "down south".

I like Manchester during the day but at night it’s rough. No more homeless people than other major cities. I’m in a minority as I don’t like Liverpool, I lived and worked there 20/years ago and I saw so much crime and anti social behaviour .

Leeds and Newcastle are better cities than Manchester ( and Liverpool )

I wasn’t a fan of London and im not a fan of Manchester. Its 2.5 hours car journey from me. And i feel that is too long to travel. I don’t like travelling.

Im a homebird. I dont need to visit cities, depresses me.

Brilliant art gallery. Rain.

I've been once to take dc to an audition. Thought it was a dump.

(The small bit of it I saw anyway).